Horizon Discovery has entered into an agreement with Hisun Pharmaceuticals to optimize its newly engineered CHO bioproduction cell line for commercial use. Hisun will use Horizon’s glutamine synthetase (GS) double knock-out cell line for use in therapeutic antibody manufacturing. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Horizon engineered the CHO cell line using its GENESIS gene editing technology. According to the company, the precision with GENESIS results in an optimal final genotype, with complete control over the desired genomic alterations and no unwanted off-target effects.

Haibin Wang, senior vice president, Hisun Pharmaceuticals, said, “Hisun’s competitive edge comes from our focus on pioneering technology and quality product. Horizon’s gene engineering technology is unique in the level of precision it can deliver, and therefore offers great advantages in quality and efficiency for industrial cell line engineering. Partnering with forward-looking leaders in their field, such as Horizon, is a key part of our strategy to provide innovative and quality products to our patients.”

“We are delighted to be working with Hisun on the final development stage for this cell line, the first of several Horizon projects aimed at GMP production of therapeutic proteins,” said Dr. Brian Burke, business development manager at Horizon. “Cell line development has yet to match the gains made in media and feed technology development. Precision gene editing will be a key driver for cell line development, and by selective partnering with leaders like Hisun, Horizon intends to accelerate this process.”